SNG exchanges contracts with Related Argent to deliver 50 social rent homes in Brent Cross
SNG has exchanged contracts with developer Related Argent to deliver 50 socially rented homes at Brent Cross in the London Borough of Barnet. The new homes will be built as part of a section 106 agreement at the Brent Cross Town regeneration scheme on a former industrial site on Merchant Street.
The one, two and three bed apartments will boast green credentials by being connected to a gas-free district heating and cooling system. This will offer a fully electric system of air source heat pumps, electric boilers and thermal stores and part of a district energy network is expected to be one of the biggest electric-only centres in Europe.
The homes, designed by dRMM Architects, will be tenure blind, and residents will benefit from shared private amenity space and a play is provided by a large podium garden. The site is also located adjacent to Claremont Park, a new park for Brent Cross Town with significant play facilities and public open space.
The socially rented properties are part of a wider Build-to-Rent development at the heart of the 180-acre, £8billion park town being delivered by Related Argent and Barnet Council. The wider project consists of 6,700 new homes, 460,000 square foot of retail/leisure space, 3million square foot of work/office space which will be delivered alongside three new schools, eight new public squares, sports facilities and 50 acres of green space.
Grant funding for SNG came from the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) Affordable Housing Programme 2021- 26. Barnet Council helped to secure the grant funding and will have an ongoing role in the allocation of these affordable homes to those living in the borough.
Work will begin on site early in 2025 with Midgard appointed as the main construction contractor. The first SNG customers will move into their new homes in mid-2027.
Matt Bird, SNG’s Regional Managing Director for London and East Region, commented: “Our purpose is to provide good, affordable homes so we’re delighted to be partnering with Related Argent and Barnet Council to deliver these apartments for social rent. It also reflects our commitment to the London Borough of Barnet where over 2024 we’ve delivered a total 224 homes, and we have a pipeline of 586 new homes.”
Councillor Ross Houston, Barnet Council Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, said: “We are committed to doing everything we can to deliver high-quality affordable housing options for people living in the borough. The first housing to be completed anywhere across the scheme provides homes for Council tenants and we now welcome the delivery of a further 50 much needed new homes for social rent. We look forward to them getting underway next year with more to come in the future.”
Tom Copley, the Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, said: “I’m delighted that 50 more new social homes are set to be delivered at Brent Cross Town, supported by grant funding from City Hall.
“This partnership between City Hall, Related Argent, Barnet Council and SNG embodies the Mayor’s mission to deliver more high-quality, genuinely affordable homes across the capital, helping to make London a better, fairer place for everyone.”
Tom Goodall, Chief Executive Director of Related Argent, commented: "This partnership with Sovereign Network Group to deliver 50 new social rented homes demonstrates our ongoing commitment to create a genuinely mixed, multi-generational and multi-tenure community at Brent Cross Town.
At a time when the delivery of genuinely affordable homes in London is proving such a challenge for all parties, we are delighted to have worked with the GLA, Barnet Council and SNG to bring forward these much-needed new social rented homes.
It is hugely important to us to create a thriving neighbourhood that is accessible to everyone and functions as more than just a place to live. We continue to deliver at an ambitious pace and look forward to seeing these homes and communities come to fruition.”